Lawmakers want inmate shift revisited

SACRAMENTO - Two days after being sworn into the California Legislature, two Stockton lawmakers have fired off a letter of complaint to Gov. Jerry Brown.

The Record

SACRAMENTO - Two days after being sworn into the California Legislature, two Stockton lawmakers have fired off a letter of complaint to Gov. Jerry Brown.

State Sen. Cathleen Galgiani and Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, both Democrats, joined 11 other Central Valley legislators in urging the Democratic governor to revisit public-safety realignment - the process of shifting responsibility for thousands of prisoners from the state to California's 58 counties.

A group of bipartisan Valley lawmakers asked Brown to address "the continuing disparity of funding."

More than a year ago, the state shifted oversight of nonviolent offenders. Known as realignment, the plan calls for reducing prison populations by 40,000 inmates over the next five years.

In an open letter, the lawmakers called on the governor to provide more aid to those counties, including San Joaquin, with a greater proportion of offenders affected by realignment.

"Stockton and San Joaquin County already struggle with a significant crime problem, with police and deputies thin on the ground, and overburdened court, probation and juvenile-justice systems," Eggman said in a written statement. "We can't address our existing challenges if we don't reverse this disparity."

Eggman represents the newly drawn 13th Assembly District, which includes Stockton, Tracy and western San Joaquin County. Galgiani represents the 5th State Senate District, which includes all of the county.

Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, also signed the letter. Her 12th Assembly District includes Lathrop, Manteca and parts of southern San Joaquin County.